On Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:55:08 -0500, Vic Smith
wrote:

This health care thing.
Looks like the pols on both side are agreed that every U.S. citizen
should have affordable access to health care.
Even if they believe that folks should just die if they can't pay,
they won't say it.
So I've been hearing the Reps say they prefer gov subsidies to make it
happen - folks who currently can't afford to buy private health
insurance could then afford it. Might even be mandated.
The Dems mostly want the same thing, but with a public option.
That's not well-defined as far as I can see. If they said folks could
basically buy into Medicare, it could be easily understood.
You'd still have the subsidies to pay for it, and still have to
address the issues that have Medicare in the red.
But it's getting where - maybe already there - all agree that
subsidies for lower incomes are necessary no matter which course is
taken.
Don't see anybody getting down to brass tacks and just saying taxes
will go up.
Obama got himself in a hole with his "Nobody making less than $250k
will see higher taxes."
That doesn't make sense. Won't pay the bills.
I've said before here that many families are already "taxed" 15-30%
for health insurance.
Obama would have been smarter to say if your income tax goes up to fix
health care, your health care costs will go way down if you're in the
lower income brackets.
It's not rocket science.
But I really don't think he was thinking clearly about the magnitude
of the health care problem when he was running for prez.
Now he's got himself locked in. Just like the elder Bush did with
"Read my lips."
Language and the words you choose are important.
Of course the Reps have made the same mistake by touting subsidies to
pay health insurance companies to counter the Dems call for a "public
option."
They said it, and they won't be able to retreat. But it has to be
paid for whether you're paying it toward Medicare or private health
insurance companies.
Anyway, just something to think about.
I think the health insurance/care situation will get better because
they are fighting it out.
I watched about 6 hours of Senate finance hearings yesterday, and
man, it's a complicated subject.
Using bumper sticker bull**** to define it is plain juvenile.

--Vic

When the media wants to highlight the conflict of birthers, deathers,
teabagger and speechers, how the hell are you supposed to explain
something of any complexity to the public.

The Republicans say that they want health care reform but don't want
any of what that requires.

Several of the most influential Dems are in the HC industry's pocket
so they have to play their cards right.

Your idea of being able to buy into Medicare early is the best idea
I've heard floated. It's gaining traction in the public domain. I
hope some simple explanations can be mined so the apparently shallow
public can get with it.

jps